阿甘正傳

記得小時候我讀過一篇有關於捷克長跑健將 Emil Zatopek 的報導。這位選手最有名的就是在1952年在芬蘭赫爾辛基舉行的夏季奧運裡奪得三面金牌。他在五千公尺、一萬公尺奪金之外，第三面金牌來自他在最後一刻才決定參加的人生第一場馬拉松。我對他充滿憧憬，或者說對成為能跑26哩和 385碼的人充滿憧憬。

我快過四十歲生日前，才剛從手術恢復過來。當時我讀到一篇文章說，有一個動過心臟手術的病人參加在夏威夷檀香山舉辦的馬拉松比賽。雖然我高中的時候是一個中距離的跑者，也跑了半輩子的慢跑，但卻從沒跑超過五哩的距離。但如果一個動過心臟手術的患者可以做的到的話，我也能做得到。一開始我沒有告訴任何一個人我的計畫，但是又覺得如果我不告訴別人到最後我一定會退縮。如果我告訴別人的話，就沒有選擇一定要去做。

我選了一個比賽有一整年的時間訓練，也選了一個訓練計畫，開始加長我跑的距離，一週增加到60哩。當你開始準備訓練跑10-12哩的比賽時，在訓練的時候有很多時間讓你思考。我認為人生不像短跑，比較像是馬拉松。跑短跑，從起點就可以清楚地看見終點。但是跑馬拉松的時候，如果你想要到達終點，就必須去想像自己越過一個看不見的終點線並且得到獎賞。

聖經也告訴我們同樣的事。哥林多前書9章24-25節保羅寫到: 『豈不知在場上賽跑的都跑，但得獎賞的只有一人？你們也當這樣跑，好叫你們得皀獎賞。凡較力爭勝的，諸事都有節制，他們不過是要得能壞的冠冕；我們卻是要得不能壞的冠冕。』

在準備參加我人生中的第一個馬拉松的時候，我學到一件很重要的事，就是要避免過重和任何會使你慢下來的事物。聖經中也寫到: 『我們既有這許多的見證人，如同雲彩圍著我們，就當放下各樣的重擔，脫去容易纏累我們的罪，存心忍耐，奔那擺在我們前頭的路程』(希伯來書12章1節)。

在準備馬拉松的時候，我學到的另外一件有幫助的事或者說是必要的事情，就是一路要有跟你一起跑並用話語鼓勵你的人。傳道書4章9節說道: 兩個人總比一個人好，因為二人勞碌同得美好的果效。

最後，跑馬拉松的日子到了。當我越過終點線的那一刻，我為自己感到無比驕傲。我用了三個小時又二十七分跑完全程，比我預估的時間快兩分鐘。你是否想過，當你跑完人生馬拉松，到達終點線的那一刻(也就是生命結束的那一刻)是什麼樣的景況嗎?是誰陪你一路跑並且用話鼓勵你?

William F. “Fritz” Klumpp是一位退休的飛官、生命導師和演說家。也是CBMC理事會成員和執行理事長。他的演講足跡遍及歐洲、非洲、澳洲、加拿大和全美國。

As a boy, I remember reading about a Czechoslovakian long-distance runner, Emil Zatopek, best-known for winning three gold medals at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland. He won gold medals in the 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter runs, but his final medal came when he decided at the last minute to compete in the first marathon of his life. My fascination wasn”t limited to this amazing man; it extended to anyone who could run a race 26 miles and 385 yards in length.

Just before my 40th birthday, while recovering from surgery, I read an article about cardiac patients running in the Honolulu, Hawaii marathon. As a middle-distance runner in high school and a mid-life jogger, I had never run more than five miles. But if cardiac patients could do it, I reasoned I certainly could do it. Initially, I didn”t tell anyone about my plans, but then decided if I did not tell someone, I might back out. If I told someone, I would have no choice but to follow through on my commitment.

I chose a race that would give me a full year to train, selected a training program, and began extending my running distance to as much as 60 miles a week. When you set out on a 10-12 mile training run, you have a lot of time to think. While running, I concluded life itself is not a sprint, but it is much more like a marathon. In a sprint, the finish line is clearly visible from the start. But when running in a marathon, if you are going to finish well, you need to visualize crossing the finish line that is out of your sight and envision that final reward.

The Bible talks about this. In 1 Corinthians 9:24-25, the apostle Paul wrote, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”

In preparing for my first competitive marathon, I learned it is important to avoid excess weight and anything that might slow you down. The Scriptures address this truth as well: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1).

One other thing I learned while preparing to run a marathon was that it is helpful, even necessary, to have someone run alongside and give words of encouragement. Ecclesiastes 4:9 states, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work.”

The day of my big race finally arrived. As I crossed the finish line, no one could have been more proud. I finished the marathon in three hours and 27 minutes, within two minutes of my planned time. Have you thought about your life”s race and considered what it will be like when you cross your finish line – when your life on earth is ended? Who is there to run alongside of you and give words of encouragement?

William F. “Fritz” Klumpp is a veteran aviator, life coach, and public speaker. A former board member and executive director of CBMC, he has spoken in Europe, Africa, Australia, Canada, and across the U.S.